PREPARING FOR YOUR IB DIPLOMA AT

ST GEORGE’S BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SUMMER TASKS AND READING LISTS 2013

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 1

English Literature, Language and Culture This summer try reading some of these books and or the media suggestions

NARRATIVE

My Name is Red, O. Pamuk

Great Expectations, C. Dickens

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, D. Sijie

Short Stories (any collection), Hemingway

Persepolis, M. Satrapi

Pride and Prejudice, J. Austen

The Name of the Rose, U. Eco

Atonement, I. McEwan

The Outsider, A. Camus

If This is a Man, P. Levi

City of Glass, P. Auster (graphic novel version)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being, M. Kundera

Kafka on the Shore, H. Murakami

MAUS, A. Spiegelman

Possession, A.S. Byatt

Mr Gwyn, A. Baricco

Fear and Trembling, A. Nothomb

The Great Gatsby, F.S. Fitzgerald

A Passage to India, E.M. Forster

Planet Word by JP Davidson

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 2

MEDIA (paper or online)

Time Magazine

The Economist

The Guardian

The New Yorker

Wall Street Journal

The Times

Selections of best Superbowl Adds

Gender, Identity and Language in Teenage Blogs

(http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue2/huffaker.html)

FlLMS

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Proposal

Goodbye, Lenin

Whale Rider

Rabbit-proof Fence

Little Miss Sunshine

Blood Diamonds

City of God

Miss Representation (documentary)

TED Talks

Colin Stokes: How Movies Teach Manhood

Lisa Donnelly: Drawing on Humour for Change

Steven Johnson: Where Good Ideas Come From

Lisa Kristine: Photos That Bear Witness to Modern Slavery

Megan Kamerick: Women Should Represent Women

Cameron Russell: Looks Aren't Everything, Believe Me, I'm a Model

Scott McCoud: On Comics

Naif Al-Mutawa: Superheroes Inspired by Islam

Bahia Shehab: A Thousand Times No

Rives, A Story of Mixed Emoticons

John McWhorter: Texting is Killing Language

Shereen El-Feki, Pop Culture in the Arab World

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 3

NON-FICTION

Black Gold, Anthony Wild

Songlines, Bruce Chatwin

Patagonia, Bruce Chatwin

The Language Instinct, Steven Pinker

Planet Word, J.P. Davidson

Mother Tongue, Bill Bryson

The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms

And:

Blogs, documentaries, books on language by David Crystal. His homepage is on

www.david.crystal.com

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 4

Italian A Language and Literature In preparation for next year, Italian A Language and Literature students should buy

and read, as much as possible, the following books:

LANGUAGE: Benvenuto Terracini, Conflitti di lingue e di cultura, Einaudi

Maurizio Dardano, La lingua della Nazione, Editori Laterza

Giuseppe Antonelli, L’italiano nella società della comunicazione, Il

Mulino (Universale Paperbacks)

LITERATURE: E. Montale, Ossi di seppia, Mondadori (Oscar poesie)

M.Satrapi, Persepolis, Edizioni Lizard

C.Goldoni, La locandiera, Oscar Classici Mondadori

N.Ginzburg, Lessico famigliare, Einaudi

Pier Paolo Pasolini, Ragazzi di vita, Garzanti (solo HL)

Giuseppe Ungaretti, Vita d’un uomo, Mondadori (solo HL)

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 5

Physics You are strongly advised to do preparatory work this summer before the start of IB

Physics lessons in September.

You should

1. Sign up for the St George IB Physics Wiki

http://stgeorgesibphysics.pbworks.com

2. Read about physics, watch physics videos and use animations on the wiki for

Unit 1: Measurement and unit 2: Mechanics

3. Review IGCSE Physics by using our wiki

http://stgeorgesigcsephysics.pbworks.com

4. Download and read through the syllabus from the school intranet IB Physics

page.

You could

1. Use another wiki http://nothingnerdy.wikispaces.com to read, watch, use

animations for IB Physics units 1 and 2

2. Read a good book about how physics works, for example “Six Easy Pieces”

by Richard Feynman.

3. Watch youtube documentary about modern physics, for example, videos by

Jim Alkalili or Brian Cox or Richard Feynman.

4. Try a few multiple choice questions for IB Physics on the website

http://gradegorilla.com

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 6

Chemistry These books are more interesting and informative to get you thinking scientifically

rather than a course pre-requisite

Author Title Publisher

P.W Atkins Molecules Scientific American

*J Keeler & P Wothers

Why Chemical Reactions

Happen O.U.P.

A good website to visit is www.youtube.com/user/richthornley This website has all

of the syllabus statements from the IB syllabus in video form suitable for both SL

and HL.

Make sure you review from IGCSE: Moles, Equations, Bonding, Enthalpy, Rates of

Reaction, Alkanes and Alkenes

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 7

Maths Higher Level

Core 1 is a pre-requisite for HL so students need to either have sat the exam and

obtained at least a B, or ready to sit an internal test at the start of the year in

September.

In order to do so you need to work through you Core 1 textbook and practise past

papers available online. Those aiming for a top grade may also want to study Core 2

topics.

A good website is Mr Barton’s: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/alevel.htm, which

has a section on Core 1 and 2.

Standard Level

No specific work is needed, but students may wish to use Mr Barton’s website to

revise their weaker IGCSE topics and study some Core 1 topics, especially algebra.

The SL course is a challenging and fast-paced one and a solid algebraic background

is required.

Studies

No specific work is needed, but again some IGCSE revision would be appropriate so

as not to forget what you have learnt so far!

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 8

Biology

You will need to buy several A4 folders and at least two lever arch folders to store

your notes! Subject dividers are also useful…organisation is everything!

Generally speaking you should make sure you start the year with a good knowledge

of living things – as seen in the first part of the IGCSE syllabus. Make sure you

know the differences between bacteria, fungi and viruses. It is also useful to remind

yourself of how substances move in and out of cells.

The first topic we will study is statistics followed by cells. The podcast below is a

great introduction to cells. It also talks a little about microscopy and is only about 15

minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z9pqST72is&feature=youtu.be

This webquest is also a useful start point in studying cells

http://www.biologyjunction.com/cell_exploration_webquest.htm

General knowledge and reading is a fantastic way to boost your understanding and

enjoyment of Biology. Have a looks at www.cellsalive.com the real time cameras

and images of real cells are fabulous.

And lastly, http://www.carolina.com/teacher-resources/Interactive/online-

game-cell-structure-cellcraft-biology/tr11062.tr has an entertaining online cells

game.

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 9

Computer Science

COMPUTER SCIENCE (SL) PREPARATION - SUMMER 2013

Reading list

Computer Science Illuminated – the textbook we shall be using

Useful sites on the web

CSopedia – wiki of resources for the new IB computer science course

Computer Science site at Frankfurt International School (teacher Dave

Mulkey is one of the world’s leading experts on IB Computer Science)

Computer Science Wiki – being revised to reflect the new content of the

syllabus

Rasberry Pi website – official site for the “Pi”

Raspberry Pi Wiki – the hub for everything to do with RP

Mr Gordon’s Computer Science site – at mysgbis.net

Computer Science at Khan Academy

Computer Science for Fun - cs4fn

How Stuff Works – Computer Channel

Computer Science Portal – Wikipedia portal

BlueJ – Java development environment (download and install it at home)

Background reading

Rasberry Pi – Wikipedia article

Computer Science – Wikipedia article

What is Computational Thinking? – on Computer Science For Fun

Exploring Computational Thinking –

Computational Thinking—What and Why? – original article by Jeannette

Wing

Object Oriented Programming – the option you will be studying

Java Notes – online textbook for learning Java (read Chapters 1 and 2)

Practise question

When the wages for a company’s employees are calculated, all hours worked above

38 are paid at the overtime rate of 1.5 times the base rate.

Construct a flow chart that represents this algorithm and works out the wages to be

paid.

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 10

Research task

“Rock, paper, scissors” game – develop a series of rules that will determine

the outcome of the game for two players (HINT: there are 9 possible game

combinations)

“Wolf, sheep and cabbage river crossing” – determine a sequence of

moves that will allow all three to cross the river safely. Suggest a way of

representing the possible states of the scenario at any time and the possible

actions that can happen to change the state of the game. What are the

preconditions and postconditions for each action? Is there more than one

way to solve the problem?

Carry out some research about Linux, the operating system used by the

Raspberry Pi.

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 11

ESS These books give a good background on some of the key topics we will cover

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

Websites

This site contains an excellent set of revision notes. Have a read through sections 1

and 2. We will be covering these in the first term.

ESS Revision Notes

Task

Over the summer compile a brief report of no more than two sides of A4 of

environmental issues that are currently happening. Bring this along to your first ESS

lesson.

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 12

Theatre Arts

Reading List

The Empty Space by Peter Brook

The Theatre and It’s Double by Antonin Artaud

An Actor Prepares by Stanislavski

All books can be collected from Mrs Angeletti before the end of term

Research

Have fun researching the following World Theatre Forms looking for related

websites etc:

Kabuki Theatre

Noh Theatre

Bunraku Theatre

Butoh Dance

You can think about design, costumes etc as well as performance techniques

IB ENGLISH - READING & RESEARCH 13

Music

1. Prepare one piece to play within the first few weeks. It can be written by themselves if they would like but does not have to be. 2. Please could they present one piece from each of the following categories and say where it has come from, when it was written and why they like it: a) Classical piece b) Jazz piece c) World music piece d) Popular music piece (none of the above can be from the GCSE Music Anthology!) 3. A short 300 word description of a style of composition that they admire (e.g. 20th century Atonality)

Introduction to the IB• Geography is in Group 3, and can also be an

elective in Group 6• Paper 1: Core (population and resources)• Paper 2: Optional units• Internal assessment (coursework)• The course is the same for HL and SL with these

differences:▫ HL also do “Paper 3: Global Interactions”▫ HL also do an extra topic from Paper 2▫ The weighting of the papers is slightly different

SL

HL

Useful resources

• Username: rosario Password: stgeorge• Explain the causes and impacts of future

population change.▫ How would you approach this question

geographically?

Starting some research

• You can use YouTube as well!• Watch a video about population growth e.g.

“Hans Rosling: The Joy of Stats”* and make notes▫ Notes: specific factual details, plus general ideas

• What are the main points it raises?• Where could you go for further information?

• Find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo&list=PLA9F341A956449E1E

Answering a typical question:

Explain the causes and impacts of increasing population.Brainstorm: what would you need to include?

If you want, get going straight away by answering this question in a full essay!

Summer Holiday Task for Pupils Beginning I.B. Art in September 2013

Your summer holiday task forms the beginning of your actual I.B. Visual Art practical work and research studies coursework upon which your entire final grade is based. It should therefore be completed to a very high standard of presentation and content. The first part of the task is to produce written and visual research in your first Investigation Workbook. The Investigation Workbooks record your personal investigations, practical experimentation, critical, historical and contextual studies and developing studio work in the form of essays, illustrations, experimentation, notes, photographs etc. They account for 40 % of your final grade. From September onwards you will be expected to complete between 10 & 12 sides in your books each month. You will need to use all of the skills from your other subject areas in Art – descriptive, experimental, critical and analytical writing and visual exploration...

First get yourself a Investigation Workbook ! They Must be either A4 size (30cm x 21cm approx.) or A3 (30 x 42 cm) hard bound (usually in black ) with 140 pages (280 sides). They normally cost around €15. Don’t worry if your book has less pages though. We count pages not books! Please check that the pages are either A4 or A3 – no other format is acceptable (see Mr Morgan if in doubt) For this research task A3 pages count as around 1.5 A4 pages (so instead of 20 A4 pages you would produce 12 A3 pages) Many examiners, myself included, recommend the A3 format.

Your first school-based project will begin with the development and creation of Studio Work that combines ideas of individual identity, portraiture and representations of the human head from a variety of cultures.

The Research tasks: Part One : Human Identity Gallery Based Research: During the summer you are to visit at least one gallery or exhibition that includes some works of art that take the human identity – including the face or head as their main theme (it doesn’t have to be in Rome). Write and illustrate (draw/paint) a review of your visit. It is often better to write about work that you have seen which you like - but it isn’t essential. Whether your critical writing is positive or negative, it must be thoughtful - not just “I don’t like this, it’s boring” or “ I like this because it’s realistic”. You’ve all done critical writing in your G.C.S.E. Art course - remember?!!! Over 3 A3 sides of your IWB consider issues such as:

Scale - how does a work of art’s size affect the viewer (and how is seeing an actual work of art different from seeing a reproduction in

a book or on the internet for example?)

Materials - what is it created from ?- why? - what effect does the material give?

Content - what does the work represent ? Narrative - does it tell a story ? Does the time and place in which the piece was made affect the style and intended meaning of the work? give your personal interpretation.

The Artist - Who ? When ?

Even basic descriptions of colour, shapes etc. are useful - how is the mood or atmosphere of a piece affected by the artists use of colour, texture, line, pattern etc. ?

Value judgement - is the piece successful ? Why ?

Why was this piece of Art created? Who paid for it? Why? What task does this piece of Art hope to perform? Instruction etc?

Experiment with use of metaphor and simile in your descriptions – make them rich and exciting to read.

Part Two Human Identity in Diverse Cultures: One art form that is present in many diverse cultures is the mask or head dress. Therefore, as part of your research will fill at least 3 A3 sides with drawings, paintings, photographs and notes on this theme which will form the basis of your research. For example: Native American headgear, gas masks, gimp masks, Japanese theatrical masks, motorcycle helmets, Venetian carnival masks, traditional tribal masks from various African nations, cricket masks, hockey masks, armour, skulls of animals, fish and birds, diving masks and helmets, welding masks, Egyptian burial masks, etc etc etc…. Describe/compare 2 or more masks on each A3 page It is vital that you describe the masks and headgear in detail, both through your drawings & paintings and through notes which discuss their visual appearance, function and also WHY THEY WERE MADE. What function do they serve in the society that uses them?

Part Three: Recording & Changing your own HUMAN identity: Over 4 A3 pages produce a range of visual and written studies in which you record/and or change your appearance in a way that expresses something about your identity, cultural heritage, interests, personality and character. This means drawing, painting and photographing yourself, sometimes wearing or using objects that change your appearance (makeup, masks, headdresses, scarves, glasses, hats etc) In other pictures in can be ‘just you’ . Include written notes explaining how each image that you draw/take/make says something about you, through your use of props and disguises or the way in which you pose (how does a photograph of someone taken from above give a different effect to one taken from below? How do hats, crowns, masks etc change the image and appearance of the wearer?)

Part Four: Your IB First Studio Project: Design and create a poster for World Food Day. (This is a formally assessed coursework project) The theme of the poster is

Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition This must be written clearly (and artistically!) on your poster (in any language) Your poster can be between A2 & A1 size (see me for paper). Aim to illustrate the idea of self help rather than hand outs to the poor. Have a look at http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/ and also www.feedingminds.org for more ideas. Do at least 2 A3 pages of research and studies in your book before making the final poster. Be bold – which existing posters do you remember most clearly? which were most effective in communicating their message to you? Research into effective posters and visual communication should form part of your IWB research for this project.

Remember lots of VISUAL studies in a range of styles and media, clear, thoughtful, legible notes, a few photographs - this is the start of your first Investigation Workbook - make it look attractive and exciting.

Total 12 A3 sides, split between the three tasks plus the finished poster.

http://saintgeorgesart.blogspot.com is the Art Department blog. I add useful ideas, information and links to this fairly regularly so check it out (and look back through the archives for interesting websites to help with your research. In fact you should stick the address on the inside of your IWB! My email address is greg.morgan@stgeorge.school.it Also join/follow/like our IB Art Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/501565903214141/ (St George’s Rome IB Visual Arts) and departmental FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgesArtDepartment

NO PART OF THIS WORK IS ‘OPTIONAL’ !!! It’s all real coursework

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER ! MR MORGAN 2013